Colton's Finger Part 2

Colton went back that Friday and ended up getting his stitches out. He took it like a pro, even smiled when they took them out! Dr. Beaty looked at it and thought that he would NOT need a skin graft, but would keep his eye on it!! Overall he was pleased!

Two weeks later, we came back for another check up. Colton's skin was growing very well, and we knew for certain that no skin graft would be required at this point- Praise Jesus!! I am not going to lie after they took the stitches out two weeks previous, I was a little concerned. I actually thought it looked worse! But over those next two weeks God grew his little skin and began to close the hole that was forming! 

We still have one more appointment, but I am sure he will be released! You can hardly even tell now! His fingernail ended up falling off! After it fell off, it ended up looking SO much better!! We are so thankful that God has healed our little boy's finger!! What a mighty God we serve!!

Brookie Has Been Out and About

Well it has been a WHOLE month since I have written a blog, so I am going to try and catch up as much as I can tonight!! Brooklyn has had several zoo visits here recently. We have been twice with Daddy and once with Mommy and her friends!! Brooklyn loves the zoo and has been perfect every visit! The weather has been perfect zoo weather: sunny and warm but not too hot with a cool breeze! As much as we go it is always neat to experience something new. Last visit we got to see the grizzly bears being fed- this was a first for Mommy as well! We really enjoyed it!!

 Not only has Brooklyn been visiting the zoo but she has also been to Nashville to see Granny and Dora and The Hermitage!! We decided to go see Andrew Jackson's home since Jackson loves presidents and history! We enjoyed going there and learning more, but was a little disappointed because they were undergoing construction. But we always enjoy taking the kids places and seeing them experience things for the first time! 

About 6 weeks ago the circus was in town. We all went to the Agricenter on a Friday night to see it. Everyone loved it!! Colton's favorite part was the motorcycle stunt people!! He said, "That was AWESOME!!" I love seeing my kids enjoy things/activities!! It just makes this Momma smile!! Plus I am a kid at heart so I love going to these places anyways!! We will end this blog with 2 pictures of us from our circus visit!!

Brooklyn's First Food: Rice Cereal

Little Miss Brooklyn loves to eat!! And she has the juiciest thighs to prove it!! Although I started feeding the boys rice cereal around 4 months, Dr. Snapp said to hold off on feeding Brookie until about 6 months. 1. She was doing exceptionally well with nursing, babies that are breastfed don't need any other nourishment until about 6 months and 2. Studies have changed from the time my boys were 4 months and now. Whatever the reason, we just held off and listened to Dr. Snapp! Brooklyn nurses great, and we have yet to buy any formula! But anytime we eat she will watch us like a hawk and follow the fork from your plate to your mouth! So tonight we decided to try Brookie's hand at some cereal. She was super excited, but I don't know if she actually swallowed any!! It was her first time so I am not concerned! We will just try again. She just doesn't have the swallowing part down yet. But I can't think of anyone who looks as cute actually wearing their food as Brooklyn!! She is a little sweet heart and we fall in love with her more and more everyday!!

Before... (Look at her excitement)

Now here comes the food...

A Perfect Spring Day

Finally after a crazy cold week last week, the first official day of Spring Break was perfect!! The weather was so nice, no too hot and not too cold. Just perfect! We had a picnic outside for lunch. Later that afternoon we played outside together. All my kids love to be outside! I am thankful too because little boys need to burn off some energy in the outdoors! I don't think the indoors can contain all that pent up energy!! Little Miss Brooklyn seemed to enjoy it too!! Here are a few pics to enjoy from our afternoon!

Just a little Saturday Morning Sunshine!!

Little Miss Brooklyn,

We are so thankful to have you as part of our family!! I was perfectly content with your 3 big brothers, but God had other plans for our family!! And that included YOU!! For that I am so thankful!! You are such a happy and bright eyed little girl!! You bring so much JOY to everyone that comes in contact with you!! This morning we came in your room to see if you were awake and you greeted us with these precious smiles!!

Jackson looked at me this morning while we were in your room and said, "Momma are you glad you have 3 boys and a girl?!" And of course I answered, " Yes, I wouldn't have it any other way!" Your radiant face has made me nickname you "My Sunshine"!! I love your beautiful eyes, smile and personality!! But most importantly I just love you!!!

Colton may need to live in a Bubble!!

Last Thursday afternoon (February 27, 2014), John calls and asks me how late the pediatrician office stays open. I ask why and he proceeds to tell me that Colton smashed his finger in between 2 weight plates! I told him to text me a pic!

I received this picture!! I called him back and told him that he needed to take Colton to the ER not a doctors office!! I was so torn about what to do. I had just picked up Jackson from school and had the other 3 with me! I needed to feed Brooklyn (and since I am nursing, right now I am the only one who can do that), and I also needed to help Jackson study for his tests. I am the only one who helps him and I didn't want to throw him off on his tests for Friday. I talked to Colton and decided that what was best for the family was for me to stay home with the others and then when Colton got home to love on him!! He was in such good hands: Daddy was with him, my best friend Jennifer, who is also a Lebonheur ER nurse, was there and shortly after Nana made her way down there too!! Although I knew he would be fine, it still broke this momma's heart not to be able to be there with him!! I have been there for every boo boo he has had up until now! :(  But when you have four children, I have learned, that you can't always be right there. I am so thankful for such wonderful family and friends who love us and our kids and are willing to do whatever to help us out!! 

Once they got to Lebonheur they took Colton for x-rays. Thankfully nothing was broken!! He did not injure any bone, only soft tissue. There was so much pressure built up in his little finger that they had to poke a hole in his nail! They gave him some wonderful medicine up his nose to take the edge off, and then they gave him a nerve block in his finger! I was getting texts and pictures the whole time so I wouldn't feel left out!!

Earlier that week Colton threw his Tabeo (kind of like an IPad for kids) and it almost hit Brooklyn, so his punishment was no electronic devices for a week including IPads. He went around telling everyone that he was " banished"!! While he was in the ER, a child life specialist came in with an IPad to keep him occupied while they sewed up his finger. Daddy had to tell him it was ok to play with the IPad!! Lol 

The doctor did the best he could with what he had to work with. Colton ended up getting 6 stitches!! 

We were told to go to the pediatrician's office to remove his stitches in a week. It was bandaged when he got home so it was the next morning before I saw his stitches for the first time. It was worse than I expected when I unwrapped his bandage. It looked like a black caterpillar was eating his flesh!! Nasty, nasty!! And the left over tissue that they couldn't stitch up looked like fish eggs hanging out!! Again yucky, yucky!! 

Sunday morning I really started to worry about his finger because his tip started to look very black!! I was worried because I didn't want any infection to get into his blood stream and cause further damage! I was planning in taking him to the doctor Monday to get it checked out but we had Winterstorm 2014 and the roads were extremely icy. I ended up taking him on Tuesday. We saw Dr. Saino and he was a little worried so he wanted to send him to an orthopedic surgeon just to be on the safe side!! We were sent directly to Campbell Clinic where we saw Dr. Beaty. He said to come back on Friday to remove his stitches. From there we will see if he needs a skin graft or if it can heal on its own. I will keep the blog updated on what they tell us!! For now I will just end with a few more pics!!